Date: 5/15/2011

Project: QR code links to librarians’ LibGuide profile page placed in stacks

Overview: QR codes are placed in the stacks and link to individual reference librarians’ LibGuide profile page. The QR codes are placed in the stacks by LC classification around the areas supported by each reference librarian to facilitate students and faculty members contacting their subject librarian.

Goal: To facilitate students and faculty members who are working in stacks and who might need to contact a reference librarian; also to raise student and faculty awareness of the subject librarians for research support by putting their contact information in the stacks of the subjects that they support. This is also a pilot project for the library with the goal of familiarizing the library staff with the use of QR codes, testing the creation and tracking of QR code pages, and experimenting with placement and design of QR codes.

Description: QR codes were generated that link to the LibGuide profile page for each subject librarian. The LC classification was used and librarians were associated with LC ranges (N.B. librarians will be asked to verify if the associations are accurate). The codes were printed and put in the stacks. Students and faculty members can access the contact information for librarians by scanning the QR code with their phone which will take them to the librarian’s profile page that includes an email address, phone number, and office location.

Assessment: The QR code tracker developed by the library systems group will be used to track which QR codes are used, the date they are accessed, and the mobile device types used to access the codes.

Improvements/modifications for next iteration:
  1. Print and post more codes – the initial posting of codes did not include enough codes to cover fully each area
  2. Laminate the codes & print on stronger material (i.e. foam core)
  3. Ask liaisons to review the LC Classification assignments and recommend modifications if necessary
  4. Coordinate with Library Marketing for better visibility
  5. Point to mobile page of LibGuide profile page
  6. Point to general subject guide rather than librarian profile page
  7. Point to the text-a-librarian link rather than a webpage
  8. Ask liaisons to review LC classification that was associated with them for pilot project